Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-11-18
At1Oo,clock Deputy.Sheriff Glea

IL icllci, WulCh hO P"o'S" w - f'
The superscriptlon was in femi-
nine hand. He read it without a
movement of his facial muscles.
At 10 o'clock two telegraphic dis
patches were taken to Parsons
just as the dispatches had been
taken in the sound of singing in
gutteral voice broke upon the ears
of those gathered in the Office. In
an instant all was as silent as death.
FISCHER SINGS THE MARsEILLEs.
The voice was that OF Fischer,
and he was standing at his cell door
singing the Marseillaise with all the
strength of his powerful lungs
There was a smile upon his face,
not one of cynicism, but a hearty
open faced smile, as that Of a man
who was entering heart and soul in.
to the sentiment of the words he was
singing. He sang two stanzas OF
"Rouget De Isles,r a famous song
of the French revolution, and then
subsided. None of his comrades
Joined in the chorus, although the
faces of Parsons and Spies bright
ened up and they listened intently
until the notes had died away.
on THE GALLows.
1t lacked just seven minutes and
a half OF the hour of high noon
when a single white-shrouded figure,
above which was face of yellow
ish pallor-the face of August
Spies-passed the first post of the
gallows. The gaping crowd, ten
feet below, half rose involuntarily
from their chairs at the first glimpse
of the apparition advancing across
the scafIold. Spies looked calm,
and glanced at the reporters with
trace of his old.time cynical
smile. He walked firmly over the
drop, guided by the grasp of a
deputy, to the furthest edge Of the
gallows. Following close came
Fischer-close enough to touch
Spies shroud, had his hand not
been plnioned under the white
muslin. Fischer's cOuntenance had
a peculiar glisten, totally unlike
the ashiness of Engers heavy
features, and in strange contrast
with the dead lack of color in the
pinched lineaments of Parsons.-
The once jaunty, vivacious Texan
came last, a withered old man.
He had aged twenty years since
the day and hour, scarce twelve
months before, when he tripped
lightly into the court before Judge
Gary and flippantly declared that
he was ready to be tried at once
for his life. The moment his feet
touched the scaffOld Parsons SEEM
ed to completely lose his identity
and to feel that his spirit was no
longer part of his body. He had
wrought himself to an ecstasy of
solemn selt.glorifcation. Only he
the one American-seemed to
realize to the full that he must die
in a manner to impress, If possible,
on all future generations the
thought that he was a martyr. No
| tragedian that has paced stage IN
America ever made more mar
yelous presentation of q selt-choseu
part, perfect in every detail. The
upward turn of his eyes, his
distant, hr.away look, and, above
all, the attitude of apparent com
plete resignation that every fold o.
the awkward shrouds only served
to make more distinct, was by fal
the most striking feature OF the
entire gallOws picture.
The squat form of Engel along
side, with stupid, wlde-jawed face
made a hideous contrast to Par
sons assumption of the halo OF a
MARTYR. Fischer was head and
shoulders taller than the Other
tree, making his occasional looks
of too evident bravado more notice
able than might otherwise be at
sorry disadvantage, compared will
the steady coolness of Spies. ThC
latter's exhibition ofqulet, thorough
nerve far surpassed as a wonder
the demeanor of any of his com
rades.
ADJUSTING THE ROPES.
The four burly deputies standing
to the rear OF the feur condemned
men began without delay to adjus
the ropes, Spies moose being the
one first placed. He did not ap
pear to regard it of any more con
sequence than a new linen collar
The knot was slipped down tn
cord, close against his neck. Spie
did not show tremor; but whe
the same process was being CARRIE
out with Fischer, he turned an
quietly whispered to the BALI
some suggestion concerning tn
rope.
Fischer's occasional ardor wa
quite noticesbly lessened when b
felt the hempen strand. and EngC
bit his under lip hard when h
turn came. Just then DR.. Murph.
a young physician standing bac
= of Engel, whisperingly cracked
joke at Engeps ear.
= LAUGHING ON TEE GALLows.
Incredible as it may seem, Il
! lou. .hrowed Anarchist laughed on